Wound Drainage Research Articles

Amoeba-Inspired Soft Robot for Integrated Tumor/Infection Therapy and Painless Postoperative Drainage.

Tumor recurrence and wound infection are devastating complications of wide excision surgery for melanoma, and deep postoperative wound drainage typically increases pain. An amoeba-inspired magnetic soft robot (ASR) with switchable dormant and active phases is developed to address the aforementioned challenges. The dormant ASR supports wounds through its solid-like elasticity and regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels bidirectionally, promoting healing in infected wounds and eliminating residual tumors. It solves the challenge caused by the contradictory need for ROS scavenging in wound healing and ROS amplification in tumor/infection management. The active ASR removes absorbed wound exudate by crawling out from irregular wounds; interestingly, this crawling motion prevents damage to fragile tissues and alleviates wound pain via "non-direct friction." More importantly, ASR switches different states in response to an alternating magnetic field owing to its magnetothermal properties, and this process also exerts synergistic antitumor and bacteriostatic effects. Due to the appropriate mechanical structure (cohesive force) of ASR, the content of magnetic nanoparticles required to drive the ASR is ten-fold lower than that of conventional magnetic soft robots, enabling in vivo degradation. These outcomes highlight the vantage of the ASR for treating post-tumor excision wounds and underscore their potential for clinical application.

Using patient-reported experiences to inform the use of foam dressings for hard-to-heal wounds: perspectives from a wound care expert panel.

Caring for patients with hard-to-heal (chronic) wounds requires a multifaceted approach that addresses their diverse needs, which can contribute to the complexity of care. Wound care providers must have a comprehensive understanding of the patient's comorbid conditions and psychosocial issues to provide personalised and effective treatment. Key quality indicators for effective wound care involves not only selecting appropriate local wound care products, such as foam dressings, but also addressing individual patient experiences of wound-related pain, odour, itch, excessive wound drainage, and self-care needs. The purpose of this review is to inculcate the wound care practice community, research scientists and healthcare industry with a sense of accountability in order to work collaboratively in addressing these unmet care needs.

The impact of closed suction wound drainage on chronic pain and health-related quality of life after posterior spinal fusion in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Closed suction subfascial drainage is widely used after instrumented posterior spinal fusion in patients with a spinal deformity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of this wound drainage on the outcomes in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This was a further analysis of a randomized, multicentre clinical trial reporting on patients after posterior spinal fusion using segmental pedicle screw instrumentation. In this study the incidence of deep surgical site infection (SSI) and chronic postoperative pain at two years' follow-up are reported. We conducted a randomized, multicentre clinical trial on adolescents undergoing posterior spinal fusion for AIS using segmental pedicle screw instrumentation. A total of 90 consecutive patients were randomized into a 'drain' or 'no drain' group at the time of wound closure, using the sealed envelope technique (1:1). The primary outcomes in the initial study were the change in the level of haemoglobin in the blood postoperatively and total blood loss. A secondary outcome was the opioid consumption immediately after surgery. The aim of this further study was to report the rate of deep SSI and persistent postoperative pain, at two years' follow-up. As previously reported, the mean 48-hour opioid consumption was significantly higher in the no drain group (2.0 mg/kg (SD 0.8) vs 1.4 mg/kg (SD 0.7); p = 0.005). There were no delayed deep SSIs. At two years' follow-up, the mean Scoliosis Research Society 24-item questionnaire (SRS-24) total score did not differ between the groups (4.11 (SD 0.47) vs 4.16 (SD 0.33); p = 0.910). The mean SRS-24 pain score was 4.28 (SD 0.48) in the no drain group compared with 4.33 (SD 0.66) in the drain group (p = 0.245). Seven patients (19%) in the no drain group and six in the drain group (14%) reported moderate to severe pain (numerical rating scale ≥ 4) at two years' follow-up (p = 0.484). The general self-image domain score was significantly higher in the no drain group compared with the drain group (4.02 (SD 0.74) vs 4.59 (SD 0.54); p < 0.001). The main finding in this study was that more severe pain immediately after surgery did not result in a higher incidence of chronic pain in the no drain group compared with the drain group. Back pain and health-related quality of life at two years' follow-up did not differ between the groups. The patient-reported self-image domain was significantly better in the no drain group compared with the drain group.

Role of Spinal Surgery Drainage Techniques in Postoperative Outcomes: Insights From a Comprehensive Literature Review.

Postoperative management often demands the introduction of several strategies in an attempt to minimize complication rates. One of the routine strategies includes the use of spinal drains, which have been questioned for their efficacy in improving postoperative outcomes. However, its role in postoperative outcomes is still debated. In general, this elucidation of an extensive literature review supports the synthesis of current evidence regarding the role of spinal drains in infection rates, hematoma formation, and overall patient recovery. A comprehensive search of PubMed from 2000 to 2024 was performed, focusing on studies investigating the use of spinal drains in spinal surgeries and their associated postoperative outcomes. It followed the guidelines outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The inclusion criteria were studies related to spinal surgeries, excluding case reports, reviews, and editorials, and limited to articles published in English. Quality assessment was performed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. A total of 19 studies were included, with different designs and varied sample sizes. The sample size was from 25 to 2,446 patients. Findings on infection rates were mixed; while one group of studies showed no significant differences in patients with and without drains, another group showed a reduced rate of reoperation for surgical site infections in patients with drains. In general, hematoma formation rates were reported to be the same across groups, while a few studies indicated that drains were more effective in managing wound exudates compared to no drains. Recovery outcomes indicated that patients who had a wound drain were more likely to stay in the hospital longer, although an improvement was noticed with time-driven wound drain removal, which resulted in shorter hospital stays and earlier ambulation. The use of spinal drains in postoperative spinal surgery presents both benefits and drawbacks. Spinal drains can assist in the management of wound exudates, and earlier detection of infection complications increases hospital stays and complications. Indeed, whether to use spinal drains or not should be an individual decision, weighing the potential benefits and risks. Future studies need to be done in order to establish clear guidelines for the use of drainage systems in various spinal surgical cases.

339. MANAGEMENT OF OESOPHAGO-PLEURAL FISTULAS WITH ENDOSCOPIC VACUUM THERAPY: A PROMISING APPROACH

Abstract Background Boerhaave syndrome is a rare and serious condition requiring prompt management to prevent severe complications and improve patient outcomes. One significant complication is an oesophago-pleural fistula. These fistulas often result in aspiration pneumonia, empyema, and mediastinitis. Conventional management with surgery has high complication and mortality rates. Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) is a less invasive technique for the management of oesophageal fistulas, involving endoscopic placement of a vacuum-assisted sponge within the oesophageal defect, promoting healing via continuous wound drainage and tissue granulation. Methods We report the case of a gentleman who initially presented with Boerhaave syndrome, was treated with open oesophageal repair, and was re-admitted 3 weeks later for an oesophago-pleural fistula with pleural collections. EVT was administered to the oesophageal defect twice weekly for 29 days and the effectiveness of therapy was monitored with serial oesophagogastroduodenoscopies, contrast studies, and computed tomography scans of the thorax to monitor the resolution of the pleural collections. During this period, the fistula defect showed gradual granulation tissue growth, resulting in full closure of the mucosal defect. Results The use of EVT has shown to result in successful closure of fistulas, resolution of sepsis with reduced need for surgical intervention, and shorter hospital stays. EVT combines coverage of the oesophageal defect and adequate drainage of the cavity behind the defect, often without the need for additional external drain placement. These findings highlight the role of EVT as a valuable adjunct in the management of oesophageal fistulas, particularly in cases requiring rescue therapy. Limitations of EVT include risk of bleeding, fistula formation/recurrence, need for frequent endoscopic interventions, stricture formation, and inability for oral intake due to occlusion of the gastrointestinal tract. Conclusion EVT represents a paradigm shift in the management of oesophageal fistulas, offering a less invasive alternative with the ability to promote wound healing, control sepsis, and reduce the need for high-risk redo oesophageal surgery. Further prospective studies and trials are needed to reach a consensus about its technical aspects, such as pressure settings and procedure intervals; as well as to evaluate its efficacy as a potential first-line treatment for oesophageal fistulas.

762. A PROPOSAL FOR CERVICAL ANASTOMOTIC LEAKAGE CLASSIFICATION AFTER ESOPHAGECTOMY

Abstract Background Anastomotic leak (AL), a potently life-threatening complication after esophagectomy, has a wide spectrum of presentation. There are also several treatment modalities but uncertainty about its clinical applicability remains, being mostly guided by personal experience and available resources. Regarding cervical anastomosis, literature is especially scarce. Although classically it was managed conservatively with cervical wound drainage, 60-70% have an intrathoracic manifestation, which is not only associated with worst clinical severity, as it appears more difficult to manage. In this study, we propose a new classification system for cervical esophago-gastric leak, based on its imaging presentation, with a standardized therapeutic approach. Methods Cervical AL classification and therapeutic protocol were developed through retrospective evaluation of a prospective database, including all patients submitted to esophagectomy with gastric conduit reconstruction and cervical anastomosis since the 1st January 2018 to the 31st March 2024, in an upper gastro-intestinal surgery unit, at a tertiary cancer center. AL manifestation was classified according to imaging appearance on CT scan, reviewed by a dedicated radiologist. Protocol was developed considering treatment patterns according to each manifestation and respective success rate. Results During this period, 253 esophagectomies were performed, 171 with cervical anastomosis and thus included to analysis. AL rate was 21.6%. Four types of AL manifestation were identified: A – exclusive cervical manifestation (32.4%); B – mediastinal drainage without pleural involvement (8.1%); C – apical pleural collection (8.1%); D – pleural involvement (51.2%). Based on these patterns, a standardized therapeutic algorithm was developed (figure 1): conservative treatment with cervical wound drainage for A, endoscopic therapy for B and C (first-line endoluminal esosponge®, stent as option) and for type D, in addition to endoscopic therapy, pleural drainage and empyema decortication in refractory cases. Conclusion Although well stablished and easy to apply, the Esophagectomy Complications Consensus Group (ECCG) classification for esophagectomy AL differentiates its severity, but does not guide its treatment. In this study, we identified four types of cervical AL manifestation, which we consider relevant to select the appropriate treatment modality. This protocol was recently adopted in our center and we pretend to evaluate its results in a short-term.

Modified buried vertical mattress suture technique for excisional suturing of benign parotid tumors: A retrospective study.

The purpose of this retrospective patient chart review was to analyze the clinical data of 52 patients with benign parotid tumors who underwent modified buried vertical mattress sutures and to assess the postoperative complication rate and patient scarring. A total of 52 patients with benign parotid tumors underwent total parotidectomy and modified buried vertical mattress suture. Variables included general characteristics (age, gender, tumor diameter, and pathologic type), surgical indicators (suture time, wound healing time, operative time, hospital stay, bleeding volume, and drainage volume), complication rates, and Sunnybrook facial neurological function score, visual scar scale (VSS) score and patient and observer scar assessment scale (POSAS) score. Most tumors were less than 3 cm in diameter, with pleomorphic adenomas being the most common. Suture time was 14.83 ± 1.61 min, operative time was 58.90 ± 15.76 min and hospital stay were 5.12 ± 0.96 days. Postoperatively, salivary fistulae developed in one patient, Frey's syndrome in two patients, temporary facial paralysis in six patients and temporary numbness in the incision area in six patients. At 6 months postoperatively, 86.5% of patients had a Sunnybrook score of more than 80, and VSS scores and POSAS scores were between one and two. The postoperative complication rate was 30.8%, and the scarring in the facial incision area was mild and close to normal skin at 3 years postoperatively.

Comparative Efficacy of Wound Drainage and Non-Drainage in Posterior Spinal Surgery

Background: The recent trend has been toward recommendation of nondrainage in spinal surgery. However, the use of drains following posterior spinal surgery is still controversial. It has been claimed that wound drainage confers no significant advantages, increases the risk of infection and the need for blood transfusion with the attendant risks of this therapy. Suction drainage is used to minimize infection, prevention of wound swelling, improvement of the local wound environment, prevent hematoma and /or seroma formation. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of post-operative complications after posterior lumbar instrumentation with and without a subfascial drain. Methods: This is prospective analysis of 32 adult (≥18 years old) spine patients that underwent elective and emergency posterior lumbar instrumentation at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, from January to December 2023. There were randomly assigned 16 (50%) patients who had a post-operative drain and 16 (50%) patients who did not have a postoperative drain (No-Drain: n=16; Drain-Use: n=16). Patient demographics, comorbidities, intra- and post-operative complication rates were collected for each patient. The primary outcome investigated in this study was pain, the need for post-operative transfusion, dressing changes, surgery – discharge interval, the rate of post-operative complications, specifically surgical site infections (SSI) and hematoma formation. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistics version 29 (IBM Corp., New York). Results: Our study revealed that no significant differences regarding wound infection (P = 1), hematoma, neurological injury, estimated blood loss (P = 0.3), or dry and moderate dressing drainage between the groups. There were no 30-day hospital readmission or incidence of 30-day wound dehiscence, draining wound or bleeding between both patient groups. Conclusions: There is no obvious advantage of the application of suction drains for spinal surgery. There was no significant difference in the rate of infection or wound healing and no patient developed a postoperative neurologic deficit. However, a decision of wound drainage or wound non-drainage should be individualized for each patient because many factors affect the outcomes.

Effectiveness of Surgical Drains in Obese Patients Undergoing Lumbar Discectomy.

Background The placement of postoperative drains after spine surgery is a contentious issue, and its application has changed over time. Obesity itself is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications. Hematomas in the surgical wound are a complication that may necessitate revision surgery. Orthopaedic surgeons frequently use closed drainage in orthopaedic surgery to prevent the formation of a hematoma. It remains unclear whether drains reduce postoperative complications and improve clinical outcomes, especially in obese patients who are already at risk of such complications. Objectives To assess the incidence of surgical site infections (SSI) after lumbar discectomy in obese and morbidly obese patients with or without postoperative wound drainage and compare functional outcomes between both groups. Methodology A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted among 84 patients with obesity who underwent single-level lumbar discectomy at R. L. Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre, Kolar, India from May 2022 to April 2023. Drains were used for patients in Group A and avoided for patients in Group B. Results Postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the non-drainage group were much higher than in the drainage group and were statistically significant. There was a statistically significant association found between body mass index (BMI) and postoperative SSI. In Group A, only three patients had SSI while in Group B, eight patients suffered from SSI. Conclusion Closed suction drains were shown to have a positive impact in reducing SSI in patients with obesity. Drain tip culture may be beneficial in detecting SSI at the earliest. Hence, we believe that closed suction drainage can be considered as a standard protocol in obese patients.

Reduction Mammoplasties: Risk Factors and Early Complications-About 1442 Cases.

Breast reduction surgery is a widely performed plastic surgery procedure. The incidence of such complications has been steadily decreasing in recent years but is still nonetheless 5.6%. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of the main postoperative complications of breast reduction surgery. In addition, we identified cause-and-effect links between complications and characteristics of the patients, such as smoking, age, weight resection, BMI, and wound drainage. This retrospective study was performed on a population of 1442 women who underwent breast reduction surgery between January 2016 and October 2022 in the plastic surgery unit at Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France. At the follow-up examination, we evaluated the patients for complications. The average resection weight was 1297.7 g in a population for which the average BMI was 28.9. We found 19.9% rate of total complications, of which 3.5% were major complications. We found that only the resection weight was a risk factor for complications. The main strength of our study is the size of our sample. The large number of patients allowed us to conduct numerous analyses and obtain significant results despite the rarity of certain events. This large cohort was also responsible for the high statistical power of our results. The risk of developing a postoperative infection was 7.5% for resections of less than 2.4 kg, increasing to 13.9 % when greater than that. Thus, the administration of prophylactic antibiotic therapy to affected women to reduce the risk of infection is a distinct consideration. For the other factors, while none of them appeared to promote the occurrence of adverse events and, therefore, do not formally contraindicate breast reduction surgery, some preventive measures still strike us as being relevant, such as blade drainage, weight loss, diabetes control, and smoking cessation. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Complications of Venous Thromboembolism Chemoprophylaxis in Lumbar Laminectomy With and Without Fusion.

The benefit of chemoprophylaxis (CPX) agents in preventing venous thromboembolism must be weighed against potential risks. Current literature regarding the efficacy of CPX after laminectomies with or without fusion is limited, with no clear consensus to inform guidelines. This study evaluated the association between CPX and surgical complications after lumbar laminectomy with and without fusion. Retrospective study of patients at a single large academic institution. The medical records of patients who underwent lumbar laminectomies with or without lumbar fusion from 2018 to 2020 were reviewed for demographics, surgical characteristics, CPX agents, postoperative complications, epidural hematomas, and wound drainage. Patients receiving CPX (n = 316) were compared with patients not receiving CPX (n = 316) via t test following propensity score matching, and patients on CPX were further stratified by fusion status. The CPX group had higher body mass index and American Society of Anesthesiologists grades. Rates of venous thromboembolism, epidural hematomas, infections, postoperative incision and drainage, transfusions, wound dehiscence, and reoperation were not associated with CPX. Moist dressings were more frequent, and average days of drain duration were longer with CPX. Overall postoperative complication rate and length of stay (LOS) were greater with CPX. The fusion subgroup had a lower Charlson Comorbidity Index, had a lower American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, was younger, had more women, and underwent more minimally invasive laminectomies. While estimated blood loss, operative times, and LOS were significantly greater in the fusion group, there was no difference in rate of intraoperative and postoperative complications. CPX after lumbar laminectomies with or without fusion was not associated with increased rates of epidural hematomas, wound complications, or reoperation. Patients receiving CPX had more postoperative cardiac complications, but it is possible that surgeons were more likely to prescribe CPX for higher-risk patients. They also had higher rates of ileus and moist dressings, greater LOS, and longer length of drain duration. Patients who underwent lumbar laminectomy with fusion on CPX tended to be lower risk yet incurred greater blood loss, operative times, LOS, cardiac complications, and hematomas/seromas than patients not undergoing fusion. This retrospective study compared surgical complications of lumbar laminectomies in patients who received chemoprophylaxis vs patients who did not. Chemoprophylaxis was not associated with increased rates of epidural hematomas, wound complications, or reoperation, but it was associated with higher rates of postoperative cardiac complications and ileus.

Use of Drains in Spine Surgery Systematic Review &amp; Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background Wound suction drains have been used to decrease the rate of postoperative hematoma formation and thus wound infections for many years throughout all surgical subspecialties. Although the use of surgical drains dates back to the years of Hippocrates, in the orthopedic literature these drains have not been shown to be beneficial in decreasing the rates of these complications, especially in orthopedic procedures including fracture fixation or arthroplasty surgeries. However, these drains are still commonly used throughout the orthopedic community, including spine surgery. Aim of the Work This study aims to review the use of closed suction drains in spine surgery. It aims to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the outcome of use of drains, their method and provide intervention recommendation by the best available evidence. Material and Methods We followed the PRISMA statement guideline during this systematic review and meta-analysis preparation and performed all steps according to the Cochrane handbook of systematic reviews of intervention. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Embase, and Science Direct till September 2021 relevant keywords. We used the following search strategy for searching different databases. “Wound drain” OR “Suction drainage” OR “Drain” OR “Spine Surgery” OR “Spine” OR “SSI” OR “Surgical Site Infection” OR “Hematoma”) AND (“Vertebral Column” OR “Column, Vertebral” OR “Columns, Vertebral” OR “Vertebral Columns” OR “Spinal Column” OR “Column, Spinal” OR “Columns, Spinal” OR “Spinal Columns” OR Vertebra OR Vertebrae). All the references of the included studies were searched for relevant studies. Results In contrast to other spine procedures, posterior spinal fusion as a surgical treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis necessitates big skin incisions, a lengthy operating duration, and a higher rate of blood transfusion. This meta-analysis comprised four studies. Surprisingly, drains had no effect on total blood loss, the rate of post-surgical infection, the rate of post-operation hematoma, or hospital stay. The drain group required greater blood transfusion than the non-drain group, according to. A drain could also result in a post-durotomy fistula. Drain use is not required after intra-dural spinal cord tumor surgery. Regarding the difference in hemoglobin between preoperative and day 3 postoperative 3 studies, no difference was found between the drain group and the no drain group in all spine surgeries. Conclusion The routine use of a drain in post-operative spine surgery appears to have no effect on the likelihood of post-operative surgical site infections or post-operative epidural hematoma, according to this study. It does, however, increase total estimated blood loss without lowering hemoglobin levels, and has no effect on hospital stay length. To further strengthen any meta- analysis in the future, high-quality studies addressing their use in the spine are require.

Perioperative Patient-Initiated Communication in Gender-Affirming Mastectomy.

Background: Gender-affirming mastectomy (GAM) improves the psychosocial functioning and quality of life of transgender and non-binary (TGNB) individuals. However, the perioperative period is often marked by emotional stress, concerns about surgical outcomes, and physical discomfort. While inpatient procedures provide multiple opportunities to engage with and educate patients, outpatient surgeries, such as GAM, pose a unique challenge as patients are followed for <24 h postoperatively. Given the heightened emotional and psychological distress related to gender dysphoria TGNB individuals often experience, addressing these gaps can significantly improve outcomes. This study aims to characterize patient and surgical characteristics associated with patient-initiated communication (PIC) frequency in this population. Methods: A single-center retrospective review of TGNB patients undergoing GAM from February 2018 to November 2022 was conducted. Demographics, surgical characteristics, and frequency of and reasons for perioperative PIC (30 days before and after surgery) were recorded. The primary outcome was the incidence of perioperative PIC. The secondary outcomes included (1) the rationale for PIC and (2) patient and surgical characteristics associated with PIC. Results: A total of 352 patients were included. Of these, 285 (74.6%) initiated communication in the perioperative period, totaling 659 PICs. The median age was 25.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 9.0) years. The median body mass index (BMI) was 28.5 (IQR: 8.5) kg/m2. The mean number of PICs was 0.7 ± 1.3 preoperatively and 1.3 ± 1.7 postoperatively (p < 0.001). The most frequent preoperative PIC subjects were administrative issues (AI; n = 66, 30.7%), preoperative requirements (n = 43, 20.0%), and cost and insurance (n = 33, 15.0%). The most frequent postoperative PIC subjects were wound care (n = 77, 17.3%), AI (n = 70, 15.0%), activity restrictions (n = 60, 13.5%), drainage (n = 56, 12.6%), and swelling (n = 37, 8.3%). Collectively, older patients (β = 0.234, p = 0.001), those with a history of major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder (2.4 ± 3.0 vs. 1.7 ± 1.9; p = 0.019), and those without postoperative drains (n = 16/17, 94.1% vs. n = 236/334, 70.7%; p = 0.025) engaged in higher levels of PIC. There were no significant associations between other patient characteristics, perioperative details, or complications and PIC frequency. Conclusions: Perioperative PIC is prevalent among the majority of GAM patients at our institution, with age, psychiatric diagnosis, and postoperative drain use identified as significant predictors. To mitigate PIC frequency, it is crucial to ensure adequate support staffing and provide comprehensive postoperative instructions, particularly concerning activity restrictions and drainage management. These interventions may reduce PICs in high-volume centers. Further research should investigate targeted interventions to further support TGNB patients during the perioperative period.

Antibiotic calcium sulphate beads lower the bacterial burden and prevent infection in a mouse model of periprosthetic joint infection.

Delayed postoperative inoculation of orthopaedic implants with persistent wound drainage or bacterial seeding of a haematoma can result in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The aim of this in vivo study was to compare the efficacy of vancomycin powder with vancomycin-eluting calcium sulphate beads in preventing PJI due to delayed inoculation. A mouse model of PJI of the knee was used. Mice were randomized into groups with intervention at the time of surgery (postoperative day (POD) 0): a sterile control (SC; n = 6); infected control (IC; n = 15); systemic vancomycin (SV; n = 9); vancomycin powder (VP; n = 21); and vancomycin bead (VB; n = 19) groups. Delayed inoculation was introduced during an arthrotomy on POD 7 with 1 × 105 colony-forming units (CFUs) of a bioluminescent strain of Staphylococcus aureus. The bacterial burden was monitored using bioluminescence in vivo. All mice were killed on POD 21. Implants and soft-tissue were harvested and sonicated for analysis of the CFUs. The mean in vivo bioluminescence in the VB group was significantly lower on POD 8 and POD 10 compared with the other groups. There was a significant 1.3-log10 (95%) and 1.5-log10 (97%) reduction in mean soft-tissue CFUs in the VB group compared with the VP and IC groups (3.6 × 103 vs 7.0 × 104; p = 0.022; 3.6 × 103 vs 1.0 × 105; p = 0.007, respectively) at POD 21. There was a significant 1.6-log10 (98%) reduction in mean implant CFUs in the VB group compared with the IC group (1.3 × 100 vs 4.7 × 101, respectively; p = 0.038). Combined soft-tissue and implant infection was prevented in 10 of 19 mice (53%) in the VB group as opposed to 5 of 21 (24%) in the VP group, 3 of 15 (20%) in the IC group, and 0% in the SV group. In our in vivo mouse model, antibiotic-releasing calcium sulphate beads appeared to outperform vancomycin powder alone in lowering the bacterial burden and preventing soft-tissue and implant infections.

Opportunities and Challenges for Augmented Reality in Family Caregiving: Qualitative Video Elicitation Study.

Although family caregivers play a critical role in care delivery, research has shown that they face significant physical, emotional, and informational challenges. One promising avenue to address some of caregivers' unmet needs is via the design of digital technologies that support caregivers' complex portfolio of responsibilities. Augmented reality (AR) applications, specifically, offer new affordances to aid caregivers as they perform care tasks in the home. This study explored how AR might assist family caregivers with the delivery of home-based cancer care. The specific objectives were to shed light on challenges caregivers face where AR might help, investigate opportunities for AR to support caregivers, and understand the risks of AR exacerbating caregiver burdens. We conducted a qualitative video elicitation study with clinicians and caregivers. We created 3 video elicitations that offer ways in which AR might support caregivers as they perform often high-stakes, unfamiliar, and anxiety-inducing tasks in postsurgical cancer care: wound care, drain care, and rehabilitative exercise. The elicitations show functional AR applications built using Unity Technologies software and Microsoft Hololens2. Using elicitations enabled us to avoid rediscovering known usability issues with current AR technologies, allowing us to focus on high-level, substantive feedback on potential future roles for AR in caregiving. Moreover, it enabled nonintrusive exploration of the inherently sensitive in-home cancer care context. We recruited 22 participants for our study: 15 clinicians (eg, oncologists and nurses) and 7 family caregivers. Our findings shed light on clinicians' and caregivers' perceptions of current information and communication challenges caregivers face as they perform important physical care tasks as part of cancer treatment plans. Most significant was the need to provide better and ongoing support for execution of caregiving tasks in situ, when and where the tasks need to be performed. Such support needs to be tailored to the specific needs of the patient, to the stress-impaired capacities of the caregiver, and to the time-constrained communication availability of clinicians. We uncover opportunities for AR technologies to potentially increase caregiver confidence and reduce anxiety by supporting the capture and review of images and videos and by improving communication with clinicians. However, our findings also suggest ways in which, if not deployed carefully, AR technologies might exacerbate caregivers' already significant burdens. These findings can inform both the design of future AR devices, software, and applications and the design of caregiver support interventions based on already available technology and processes. Our study suggests that AR technologies and the affordances they provide (eg, tailored support, enhanced monitoring and task accuracy, and improved communications) should be considered as a part of an integrated care journey involving multiple stakeholders, changing information needs, and different communication channels that blend in-person and internet-based synchronous and asynchronous care, illness, and recovery.

Diagnosis and Management of Periprosthetic Joint Infections After Total Ankle Arthroplasty.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) is a dreaded complication that may lead to catastrophic outcomes. Risk factors include a history of surgery on the operated ankle, low preoperative function scores, diabetes, extended surgical time, and postoperative wound-healing problems. Clinical presentation varies and may include increasing ankle pain and swelling, high temperature, local erythema, wound drainage, and dehiscence. The initial diagnostic evaluation should include plain radiographs, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels, and leukocyte count. In suspected cases with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, aspiration of the ankle joint for synovial fluid analysis, Gram staining, and culture should be performed. Antibiotic therapy should be based on the pathogen identified, and the surgical strategy should be determined based on the time lines of PJI. Early PJI can be treated with irrigation and débridement with polyethylene exchange. The surgical treatment of choice for late PJI is two-stage revision arthroplasty, which includes removal of the implant, insertion of an antibiotic spacer, and reimplantation of a TAA. In certain chronic PJI cases, permanent articulating antibiotic spacers can be left in place or an ankle arthrodesis can be performed. Below-knee amputation is considered as the final option after limb-sparing procedures have failed.

The Device for Intraventricular Entry guide: a novel solution to a perpetual problem.

The authors designed a low-profile device for reliable ventricular access and prospectively studied its safety, efficacy, and accuracy at a large academic center. A novel device for ventricular entry, the Device for Intraventricular Entry (DIVE) guide, was designed and created by the first and senior authors. Fifty patients undergoing external ventricular drainage (EVD) or shunt placement were prospectively enrolled for DIVE-assisted catheter placement at a single academic center. The primary outcome was the catheter tip location on postprocedural CT. Secondary outcomes included number of catheter passes, clinically significant hemorrhages, and procedure-related infections. Fifty patients were enrolled. Indications included subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, hydrocephalus, pseudotumor, and postsurgical wound drainage. In total, 76% (38/50) of patients underwent right-sided placement and 24% (12/50) underwent left-sided placement. All 100% (50/50) of patients had successful cannulation with an average of 1.06 passes. Postprocedural head CT confirmed ipsilateral frontal horn or third ventricle placement (Kakarla grade 1) in 92% (46/50) of patients and placement in the contralateral lateral ventricle in 8% (4/50) (Kakarla grade 2). There were no clinically significant track hemorrhages or procedural infections. This single-center prospective study investigated the safety and efficacy of DIVE-assisted ventricular access. In total, 100% of procedures had successful ventricular cannulation, with 92% achieving Kakarla grade 1, with an average of 1.06 passes without any clinical complications.

Comparative analysis of separation techniques in the treatment of medial ventral hernias

Relevance. Tension-free herniolasty of the anterior abdominal wall is currently the accepted standard for large ventral hernia repairing. The implementation of this approach has been marked by a significant improvement in treatment outcomes. The issues of improving the quality of life of patients after surgery and their effective rehabilitation through the application of the optimal technique of tension-free hernioplasty are now at the forefront.Objective. To compare the immediate and long-term results of treatment of patients with large postoperative midline ven­tral hernias using anterior and posterior techniques of separation of abdominal wall components.Object and methods. 114 patients with large postoperative midline ventral hernias were divided into two groups: the patients of the first group (38 patients) underwent hernioplasty using the anterior separation technique, and the patients of the second group (76 patients) - posterior separation. We evaluated the immediate (complica­tions in the area of surgery, duration of surgical wound drainage and duration of hospitalization) and long-term (functional restoration of the abdominal wall) results of treatment with subsequent comparative analysis of data between the groups using descriptive statistics methods.Results. The present study is the first to compare the immediate and long-term results of using anterior and posterior techniques for separation of anterior abdominal wall components during surgery for midline ventral hernias. It was found that both variants demonstrate good immediate and long-term results in the treatment of patients with median postoperative ventral hernias of large size. At the same time, the anterior separa­tion technique is accompanied by a significantly higher number of complications and, accordingly, is characterized by a higher risk of their de­velopment, as well as requires a longer stay of the patient in the hospital.

Efficacy of Intrawound Vancomycin in Prevention of Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Double-Blinded Randomized Control Trial

BackgroundPeriprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a devastating complication. Intrawound vancomycin powder has been shown to reduce infection rates in spine surgery, but its role in arthroplasty remains controversial. This prospective randomized control trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intrawound vancomycin in preventing PJI after primary TKA. MethodsA total of 1,022 patients were randomized to the study group (n = 507, who received 2 grams intrawound vancomycin powder before arthrotomy closure) or to the control group (n = 515, no local vancomycin) with a minimum follow-up of 12-months. The primary outcome was the incidence of PJI or surgical site infection (SSI). Secondary outcomes included associated minor complications such as stitch abscess, persistent wound drainage, and delayed stitch removal. Other parameters evaluated include reoperation rates and incidences of nephrotoxicity. ResultsThe overall infection rate in 1,022 patients was 0.66%. There was no significant difference in PJI rate in the study group (N = 1; 0.2%) versus the control group (N = 3; 0.58%), P = .264. Reoperation rates in the study group (N = 4; 0.78%) and control (N = 5; 0.97%), and SSI rates in the study (N = 1; 0.2%) and control groups (N = 2; 0.38%) were comparable. The Vancomycin cohort, however, demonstrated a significantly higher number of minor wound complications (n = 67; 13.2%) compared to the control group (n = 39; 7.56%, P < .05). Subgroup analysis showed diabetics in the study group to also have a higher incidence of minor wound complications (24 [14.1%] versus 10 [6.2%]; P < 05]. Multivariate analyses found that vancomycin use (odds ratio = 1.64) and smoking (odds ratio = 1.85) were associated with an increased risk of developing minor wound complications. No cases of nephrotoxicity were reported. ConclusionsIntrawound vancomycin powder does not appear to reduce PJI/SSI rate in primary total knee arthroplasties, including high-risk groups. Although safe from a renal perspective, intrawound vancomycin was associated with an increase in postoperative aseptic wound complications. Intrawound vancomycin may not be effective in reducing the rate of PJI in primary TKA.

The effect of octreotide on the duration of postmastectomy wound drainage: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Following mastectomy, prolonged wound drainage delays adjuvant therapy and also prolongs hospitalization in an otherwise fit patient. This study determined the effect of octreotide on the duration of postmastectomy wound drainage. Methods: Patients scheduled for modified radical mastectomy were randomized into a treatment group that received 100 µg of octreotide and a control group that received 1 mL of sterile water intravenously 8 hourly for 5 days from the first postoperative day. Sociodemographic data, time to drain removal, total drain volume, and incidence of seroma were obtained. The groups were compared for the time to drain removal, total drain output, average drain output per day, and incidence of seroma. Statistical significance was set at P &lt; 0.05. Results: Forty-one female breast cancer patients were recruited. The mean age was 53.1 ± 13.0 years. The most common histologic variant was invasive carcinoma of no special type (n = 27; 65.9%). Although not statistically significant, patients in the intervention group had a lower median time to drain removal of 11 days (interquartile range [IQR] = 3) compared with 13 days (IQR = 3) in the control group (P = 0.106) and similarly had a lower median total drain output compared with controls (892.0 mL vs. 1182.8 mL; P = 0.095). Both groups were comparable in terms of postoperative complications and these occurred in 13 patients (31.7%), the most common being seroma (n = 11; 50.0%). Conclusion: Octreotide had no statistically significant effect on either the total drain output or the duration of postmastectomy wound drainage among breast cancer patients.